Dispensing device

ABSTRACT

A dispensing device for suspension from a rim of a lavatory bowl to dispense an additive into a flow of water when the lavatory is flushed, the device comprising a receptacle for the additive, dispensing means ( 36, 42, 60 ) operable when subjected to the flow of water to dispense a portion of the additive into the water, a guide member ( 20 ) slidable between an extended position and a retracted position and operable to direct the flow of water onto the dispensing means ( 36, 42, 60 ), and a hanger engageable with the rim of the bowl to suspend the device in the bowl, wherein the device further includes biasing means ( 58, 62 ) arranged to urge the guide member ( 20 ) into the extended position, such that when the dispensing device is suspended from the rim, the guide member ( 20 ) engages with a wall of the bowl.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a dispensing device for suspension from a rim of a lavatory bowl to dispense an additive into a flow of water when the lavatory is flushed, in particular to a device to dispense a liquid additive into a flow of water.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Lavatory bowls are made in various designs and can vary considerably in the width of the rim of the bowl. This is problematic because in some designs of lavatory bowl, the flow of the water when the lavatory is flushed forms a thin layer over the wall of the bowl. If, for example, a lavatory bowl in which the flow of water forms a thin layer has a wide rim, a dispensing device suspended from the rim may not come into contact with the flow of water and cannot dispense the additive into the flow of water. On the other hand, if the device is so shaped as to bring it into contact with the flow of water when suspended from a wide rim, it is likely to intrude too far into the bowl when suspended from a narrow rim.

Various dispensing devices have been proposed to overcome this problem. One such device has a plate-like element that is movable relative to the device between folded and unfolded conditions to accommodate different widths of rims of lavatory bowls and serves to direct water onto a dispensing means of the device.

Another such device has a similar plate-like element that is slidable relative to the device between extended and retracted positions, the plate-like element serving the same purpose. Both these known devices suffer from the disadvantage that the device must be suspended from the rim of the lavatory bowl and the plate-like element adjusted by the user according to the width of the rim. This is an irksome and, given the location of the device, disagreeable task for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a dispensing device for suspension from a rim of a lavatory bowl to dispense an additive into a flow of water when the lavatory is flushed, the device comprising a receptacle for the additive, dispensing means operable when subjected to the flow of water to dispense a portion of the additive into the water, a guide member slidable between an extended position and a retracted position and operable to direct the flow of water onto the dispensing means, and a hanger engagable with the rim of the bowl to suspend the device in the bowl, wherein the device further includes biasing means arranged to urge the guide member into the extended position, such that when the dispensing device is suspended from the rim, the guide member engages with a wall of the bowl.

The invention can provide a dispensing device that is easier for a user to install in a lavatory bowl than known devices because, for most designs of bowl, when the device is suspended from the rim of the bowl, the biasing means ensures that the guide member engages with the wall of the bowl without the need for any adjustment of the guide member by the user.

The receptacle may advantageously comprise a cage for a solid additive, and the dispensing means comprise a plurality of apertures in the cage, which, when subjected to the flow of water, allow the flow of water to pass through the cage, thereby entraining and/or dissolving the portion of the additive so as to dispense the portion into the flow of water.

Preferably the receptacle comprises a reservoir for a liquid additive, and the dispensing means comprise a structure adapted to receive the portion of the additive from the reservoir and to release the portion of the additive into the water when subjected to the flow of water.

The structure may advantageously comprise a plate provided with capillary channels, the portion of the additive being received into the capillary channels and sluiced from the channels by the flow of water.

Preferably the structure comprises a porous element, the portion of the additive being received into the porous element and rinsed from the element by the flow of water.

The element may advantageously comprise a fabric sheet that is disposed such that when the device is suspended from the rim, the sheet is generally horizontal.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the element comprises a tube that is disposed such that when the device is suspended from the rim, an axis of the tube is generally vertical.

The guide member preferably comprises a generally flat plate that is disposed such that when the device is suspended from the rim, the plate is generally horizontal.

The flat plate may advantageously be disposed such that when the device is suspended from the rim, an edge of the plate that engages with the wall of the bowl is raised relative to the dispensing means.

This helps to direct the flow of water onto the dispensing means, because when the edge of the plate that engages with the wall of the bowl is subjected to the flow of water, water is able to flow down the plate onto the dispensing means.

In the preferred embodiment the flat plate is provided with a lip at or near to its periphery, the lip projecting upwards when the device is suspended from the rim.

The lip helps to direct the flow of water from the edge of the plate that engages the wall of the bowl along the plate onto the dispensing means.

In the preferred embodiment the hanger comprises a resilient strap that is attached to the dispensing means and is deformable between coiled and uncoiled conditions.

The resilient strap enables the device to be suspended from rims of a wide variety of shapes when the strap is in the uncoiled condition, but occupies a relatively small volume in the coiled condition, which is advantageous from the point of view of packaging and storage of the device.

The biasing means may, for example, comprise at least one wire spring.

Preferably the biasing means comprise at least one elongate element, the at least one element being secured by at least one end within the device and urged into engagement with a component of the device so as to exert a force on the component that acts to urge the guide member into the extended position.

In one embodiment the biasing means includes spring means operable to urge the at least one element into engagement with the component of the device.

Where the biasing means includes such spring means, the at least one element may advantageously be pivotally secured by one end within the device, and pivotable about said end by the spring means into engagement with the component of the device.

In the preferred embodiment the at least one element is resiliently deformable, and deformed such that the resilience of the element urges it into engagement with the component of the device.

Although in the preferred embodiment the at least one element is secured within the device by being fastened to another component of the device, it is envisaged that the at least one element could be integrally formed with the other component of the device.

The engagement of the at least one element with the component of the device is preferably such that the direction of movement of the guide member as the guide member slides from the extended position to the retracted position forms an acute angle with at least a portion of the or each element in contact with the component of the device, and movement of the guide member from the extended position to the retracted position causes said acute angle to decrease.

As the guide member slides from the extended position to the retracted position the deformation or angular displacement of the at least one element increases and the magnitude of the force exerted by the at least one element on the component increases. However, as the magnitude of the force exerted by the at least one element on the component increases, the angle between the direction of the force (which is approximately perpendicular to the acute angle formed by the portion of the or each element with the direction of movement of the guide member) and the direction of movement of the guide member increases. This has the effect that as the magnitude of the force increases, most of the increase in magnitude is in the magnitude of a component of the force in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the guide member, instead of in the magnitude of a component of the force in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the guide member.

Thus the magnitude of the component of the force exerted on the component by the at least one element that acts to urge the guide member into the extended position varies less between the extended and retracted positions than would the magnitude of the force produced by conventional biasing means such as a wire spring.

The force exerted by conventional biasing means varies linearly between the extended and retracted positions of the guide member. The force exerted by conventional biasing means to urge the guide member into the extended position is therefore considerably greater when the guide member is in the retracted position than in the extended position. Where the device is suspended from a relatively narrow lavatory rim, on which the guide member is required to occupy the retracted position to engage the wall of the bowl, the force exerted by conventional biasing means can be sufficient to slide the guide member into the extended position and force the device away from the wall of the bowl unless the strap is sufficiently stiff. If the strap is sufficiently stiff, however, installation of the device by the user is made more difficult.

In contrast, the arrangement of the biasing means used in the aforementioned embodiments can provide a device that is easy to install and is not forced away from the wall of the lavatory bowl when used on a bowl with a narrow rim.

The biasing means may advantageously comprise first and second resilient elongate elements, one end of each element being secured within the device and the other end of each element, or a region near to the other end of each element, engaging the component of the device such that each element is deformed and exerts a force on the component that acts to urge the guide member into the extended position.

Alternatively the biasing means may advantageously comprise first and second substantially rigid elongate elements and spring means, one end of each element being pivotally secured within the device and the spring means acting on each element so as to cause an angular displacement of each element about the secured end, such that the other end of each element, or a region near to the other end of each element, engages the component of the device and thereby exerts a force on the component that acts to urge the guide member into the extended position.

In the preferred embodiment the biasing means comprises a single elongate element, the ends of the element being secured within the device and the element forming a first curve in one direction so as to define an outer edge of the element, and the outer edge of the element engaging the component so as to deform at least a portion of the first curve by forming a second curve in the opposite direction, and sliding the guide member from the extended position to the retracted position enlarges the second curve.

The single elongate element may advantageously form the first curve in the first direction as a result of the ends of the element being secured within the device.

Where the elongate element forms the first curve in the first direction as a result of the ends of the element being secured within the device, a “knee” may be formed in the region of the midpoint of the element, which “knee” projects in the first direction. A relatively large initial force may then be required before the guide member can be slid from the extended position towards the retracted position, because the “knee” must be inverted.

The elongate element may advantageously be formed with the first curve and the ends of the element secured within the device with the first curve directed in the first direction to define the outer edge of the element.

Where the elongate element is formed with the first curve, the first curve is preferably an arc of a circle.

Where the elongate element is formed with the first curve, and particularly where the first curve is an arc of a circle, no such “knee” forms and no additional initial force is required before the guide member can be slid from the extended position towards the retracted position.

In the preferred embodiment the elongate element is a strip, the ends of the strip are fastened to the guide member, a face of the strip forms said outer edge, and said outer edge engages the dispensing means.

In the preferred embodiment the engagement of the outer edge of the resilient element with the dispensing means is such that when the guide member is in the retracted position, the resilient element forms the first curve in the first direction and a portion of the element forms the second curve in the opposite direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the attached drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing device in accordance with the invention with the guide member in an extended position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with the guide member in a retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 suspended from a relatively wide rim of a lavatory bowl;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device of FIGS. 1 to 3 suspended from a relatively narrow rim of a lavatory bowl;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views, from below and above, respectively, of part of the dispensing means and tray of the device of FIGS. 1 to 4 with the tray in the extended position; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are plan views, from below and above, respectively, of part of the dispensing means and tray of FIGS. 5 and 6 with the tray in the retracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

The dispensing device 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a receptacle in the form of a reservoir 12 for a liquid additive, dispensing means 14 comprising a container 16 for receiving the reservoir 12, an annular platform (not visible in FIGS. 1 and 2) attached to the base of the container, the platform being formed with a radially outwardly projecting tongue 18 that is formed with tabs along its long edges, and a porous tubular substrate attached to the base of the container by an annular socket. With the platform attached to the base of the container the tongue 18 projects from a first side of the dispensing means. Neither the substrate nor the socket is visible in FIGS. 1 and 2. The base of the container 16 is formed with outlet holes that communicate with the annular socket to allow the liquid additive to flow from the container 16 to be absorbed by the substrate. The device further comprises a guide member in the form of a shallow tray 20 slidably attached to the tongue 18 by means of grooves that engage the tabs of the tongue, a hanger in the form of a resilient coiled strap 22 integrally formed with a wall of the first side of the container 16 and biasing means in the form of a resilient strip (not visible in FIG. 1) attached at its ends to the underside of the tray and engaged with the annular socket of the container 16.

In FIG. 1 the tray is shown in an extended position, while in FIG. 2 the tray is shown in a retracted position.

The tray 20 is formed with a raised lip 24 at its periphery and an elongate cut-out 26. The grooves that engage with the tabs of the tongue 18 are formed in the long edges of the cut-out. The cut-out 26 accommodates the annular socket of the container 16 when the tray is in the retracted position. The cut-out 26 and tongue 18 form a shallow trough slightly below the level of the tray, which directs water in the tray onto the tubular substrate.

The reservoir 12 is formed from transparent polyethylene terephthalate, the container 16, annular platform, tray 20 and hanger 22 are formed from polypropylene and the porous tubular substrate is formed from a porous polyethylene material.

FIG. 3 shows the device 10 suspended from a relatively wide rim 28 of a lavatory bowl by the strap 22, with the first side of the device against the lip 30 of the rim 28. Although for the purposes of clarity the strip is not shown in FIG. 3, it has urged the tray 20 into an extended position relative to the rest of the device so that the lip 24 of the tray abuts the wall 29 of the bowl. Water swirling round the rim between the wall 29 of the bowl and the lip 30 of the rim will be directed by the tray 20 and tongue 18 onto the porous substrate, as will water flowing down the wall of the rim, to wash the liquid additive from the porous substrate.

The strap 22 of the device is formed with an upwardly directed claw 32 near to the end of the strap that is attached to the container 16. The claw 32 engages the underside of the lip 30 of the rim to prevent upward movement of the device relative to the rim.

The base of the container 16 is formed with a downwardly extending tubular portion 34. An annular socket is formed in the lower end of the tubular portion 34 to receive the tubular porous substrate 36. With the annular socket formed in the lower end of the tubular portion 34, the tubular portion is divided at its lower end into inner and outer annular walls, 38 and 40, respectively. The annular platform 42 fits over the outer annular wall 40. The tubular portion 34 is closed near to its lower end by a disc 44 integrally formed with the internal surface of the inner wall 38. Radial holes 46 are formed in the inner wall 38 a short distance above the disc 44 and communicate with the annular socket that receives the tubular substrate 36. An upwardly directed spike 48 projects from the centre of the disc 44. The upper surface of the disc 44 and inner annular wall 38 define a shallow vessel 47 that is linked by the holes in the inner wall 38 to the annular socket and porous substrate.

The reservoir 12 comprises a bottle 50 closed by a cap 52, which is a snap fit over the mouth of the bottle 50. The cap 52 is formed with an aperture that is sealed by a frangible membrane 54. When the reservoir 12 is placed into the container 16, the membrane 54 is punctured by the spike 48, which allows the liquid additive to flow into the vessel 47, whence it flows through the holes 46 into the porous substrate 36. When the reservoir is emptied of the liquid additive, it can be removed from the container and replaced with a full reservoir.

FIG. 4 shows the device 10 suspended from a relatively narrow rim 56 of a lavatory bowl by the strap 22. The tray 20 has been forced into the retracted position by engagement with the wall 57 of the bowl. Again, for the purposes of clarity, the strip is not shown in FIG. 4, but it is exerting a force on the tray 20 to maintain the engagement of the tray with the wall.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show from below and above, respectively, the tubular portion 34 of the container 16, the porous tubular substrate 36, the annular platform 42, the tray 20 and the resilient strip 58, the tray 20 being in an extended position relative to the annular platform 42.

Turning to FIG. 5, the annular platform 42 is provided with holes 60 adjacent to the outer wall 4Q of the tubular portion 34 of the container 16. The holes 60 allow water which flows from the tray 20 onto the annular platform 42 to pass through the platform 42, to run down the outer wall 40 of the tubular portion 34 and over the porous tubular substrate 36, thereby entraining the liquid additive absorbed by the substrate into the flow of water.

The strip 58 is attached at its ends 62 to the underside of the tray 20 and forms a first curve towards the porous substrate. The outer wall 40 of the tubular portion 34 bears on the strip 58 in the extended position of the tray relative to the annular platform to form a small second curve away from the porous substrate 36.

Turning to FIG. 6, the lip of the tray 20 extends to the edges of the elongate cut-out 26 of the tray. The side of the annular platform 42 opposite the tongue 18 is provided with an upwardly directed lip 64, which increases the amount of water directed towards the annular platform that passes through the holes 60.

FIG. 7 shows the tray 20 in the retracted position relative to the annular platform 42. The outer wall 40 of the tubular portion 34 bears more strongly on the strip 58 to form a larger second curve away from the tubular substrate 36. Although the second curve is perhaps ten times as pronounced in the retracted position of the tray as in the extended position of the tray, the force developed by the strip acting to urge the tray into the extended position when the tray is in the retracted position is much less than ten times the force developed by the strip when the tray is in the extended position. This is believed to be because the force developed by the strip as the strip is increasingly loaded by formation of the second curve is increasingly directed at right angles to the portion of the outer wall 40 of the tubular portion 34 engaged with the strip 58, so as to make the first curve of the strip more pronounced. In this way the strip produces a force which, on both wide and narrow rims of lavatory bowls, is sufficient to ensure that the tray 20 engages with the wall of the bowl, but insufficient to force the device away from the wall of the bowl.

It will be apparent that the foregoing description relates to only one embodiment of the invention and that the invention encompasses other embodiments as defined by the foregoing statements of the invention. 

1. A dispensing device for suspension from a rim of a lavatory bowl to dispense an additive into a flow of water when the lavatory is flushed, the device comprising a receptacle for the additive, dispensing means operable when subjected to the flow of water to dispense a portion of the additive into the water, a guide member slidable between an extended position and a retracted position and operable to direct the flow of water onto the dispensing means, and a hanger engagable with the rim of the bowl to suspend the device in the bowl, wherein the device further includes biasing means arranged to urge the guide member into the extended position, such that when the dispensing device is suspended from the rim, the guide member engages with a wall of the bowl.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a reservoir for a liquid additive, and the dispensing means comprise a structure adapted to receive the portion of the additive from the reservoir and to release the portion of the additive into the water when subjected to the flow of water.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the structure comprises a porous element, the portion of the additive being received into the porous element and rinsed from the element by the flow of water.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the element comprises a tube that is disposed such that when the device is suspended from the rim, an axis of the tube is generally vertical.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means comprise at least one elongate element, the at least one element being secured by at least one end within the device and urged into engagement with a component of the device so as to exert a force on the component that acts to urge the guide member into the extended position.
 6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the biasing means include spring means operable to urge the at least one element into engagement with the component of the device.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one element is pivotally secured by one end within the device, and pivotable about said end by the spring means into engagement with the component of the device.
 8. A device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one element is resiliently deformable, and deformed such that the resilience of the element urges it into engagement with the component of the device.
 9. A device according to claim 5, wherein the engagement of the at least one element with the component of the device is such that the direction of movement of the guide member as the guide member slides from the extended position to the retracted position forms an acute angle with at least a portion of the or each element in contact with the component of the device, and movement of the guide member from the extended position to the retracted position causes said acute angle to decrease.
 10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the biasing means comprise first and second resilient elongate elements, one end of each element being secured within the device and the other end of each element, or a region near to the other end of each element, engaging the component of the device such that each element is deformed and exerts a force on the component that acts to urge the guide member into the extended position.
 11. A device according to claim 5, wherein the biasing means comprise first and second substantially rigid elongate elements and spring means, one end of each element being pivotally secured within the device and the spring means acting on each element so as to cause an angular displacement of each element about the secured end, such that the other end of each element, or a region near to the other end of each element, engages the component of the device and thereby exerts a force on the component that acts to urge the guide member into the extended position.
 12. A device according to claim 8, wherein the biasing means comprise a single elongate element, the ends of the element being secured within the device and the element forming a first curve in one direction so as to define an outer edge of the element, and the outer edge of the element engaging the component so as to deform at least a portion of the first curve by forming a second curve in the opposite direction, and sliding the guide member from the extended position to the retracted position enlarges the second curve.
 13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the elongate element is formed with the first curve and the ends of the element are secured within the device with the first curve directed in the first direction to define the outer edge of the element.
 14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the first curve is an arc of a circle.
 15. A device according to claim 12, wherein the elongate element is a strip, the ends of the strip are fastened to the guide member, a face of the strip forms said outer edge, and said outer edge engages the dispensing means.
 16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the engagement of the outer edge of the resilient element with the dispensing means is such that when the guide member is in the retracted position, the resilient element forms the first curve in the first direction and a portion of the element forms the second curve in the opposite direction. 